Care home is saved from axe after fresh talks

A LLANELLI care home facing the axe has won a reprieve following fresh negotiations between its bosses and fire chiefs.

Operator HC-One’s plans to shut Llys y Coed care home in New Road have been pushed back from June 29 until at least September.

Although closure remains an option after that date, relieved families have thanked the Star after our report last week cast doubt on the need for the residents to lose their home.

Grateful

One relative of a resident at the home, who asked not to be named, said: “We can now take our time without feeling we could be railroaded.

“We are very grateful to the Star for digging and finding information to produce a balanced report and give the answers we wanted.”

Earlier this month, around 30 occupants of Llys y Coed and their relatives were hit with the bombshell news that the home was to close in weeks.

HC-One blamed an adverse fire report after a blaze in its laundry room in March and said it would face prosecution if it failed to meet a deadline set by the fire service for upgrades at the home.

But as we reported last week, according to senior fire service officials it would take only minimal work to house up to 37 residents at the New Road home safely — prompting a call from ward councillor John Jenkins for an immediate inquiry by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.

And this week, a HC-One spokesman exclusively told the Star: “We are delighted to announce that, following a period of negotiations, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are now extending the deadline previously set to us for upgrades to be made to the Llys y Coed care home.

“The extension will see us be able to continue to care for residents at the home until at least September.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer continued peace of mind to the residents and their families.

“We will continue to assess the home and its services to make sure that residents and families are always being offered the best possible care options for their loved ones.

“We are currently considering all of our options and closure after September remains one of them.”

Mr Jenkins welcomed the company’s move.

He said: “I’m heartened that Llys y Coed is to stay open for a bit longer and I hope HC-One will ensure their residents’ needs first and foremost and give them the long-term security that I believe they want, need and deserve.

Fearful

“I was very fearful that residents’ needs may have been playing second fiddle to HC-One’s profit margin and I hope that the long-term future of Llys y Coed can be secured.”

A fire service spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that HC-One has been granted a time extension to complete the necessary works at the Llys y Coed care home.”